Southampton University vice chancellor pay £423,000

Vice Chancellor Sir Christopher Snowden (pictured) was given a rise of more than £5,000 from the University of Southampton in the last academic year, annual accounts show

A university boss who was shamed by a minister over his bloated salary is now earning £423,000 after another pay hike, it emerged yesterday.

Sir Christopher Snowden was given a rise of more than £5,000 from the University of Southampton in the last academic year, annual accounts show.

Last month it was announced the vice chancellor aims to cut up to 75 academic jobs to save cash.

In June, Sir Christopher was criticised by universities minister Jo Johnson over his pay.

Mr Johnson said Southampton's vice chancellor wage bill had increased by 55 per cent over six years, and called for a stop to the 'endless upwards ratchet'.

The latest accounts show his pay was actually even higher at the time.

Yesterday Sally Hunt, general secretary of the University and College Union, branded the pay rise 'insulting'.

She said: 'To accept this kind of pay rise while saying he must axe 75 academic jobs because money is tight beggars belief.'

Southampton's accounts show Sir Christopher earned £423,000 between August 1 2016 to July 31 2017 – the last academic year.

The previous year, he only worked ten months because he started his job on October 1, and got paid £348,000 for this period.

Had he worked the full 12 months, this on average would work out as an annual salary of £417,600 – meaning the year-on-year pay rise over the two academic years would have been £5,400, or 1.3 per cent. This makes